Elton John was born Reginald
Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947 in England.
Elton John ruled the pop and rock airwaves
throughout the 70s, allowing him to attain
superstar status around the world by the time
he was 30. The consummate piano player
stumbled personally and professionally in the
80s, but always maintained his craft for
creating pop music. As Elton entered the 90s,
he changed his own self-destructive behavior
and focused on a career of music and
humanitarian efforts. Throughout it all,
Elton has maintained a level of respect few
superstar music artists can claim. Elton is
no stranger to the pop charts with 32 Top 10
hits and 60 Top 40 hits. Elton has appeared
on the Top 40 every year since '70, from his
first appearance with "Your Song"
in '70 to "Candle In The Wind
1997." Elton began his mastery of the
piano at the age of four and won a piano
scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at
the age of 11. Elton joined his first band,
Bluesology, in 1961 and successfully played
local venues and as a supporting band for
five years. In 1962, Elton signed with Dick
James Music (a publisher who had also signed John Lennon andPaul
McCartney). Elton starting collaborating
with songwriter Bernie Taupin by 1968 when
both of them answered an ad in a music trade
paper. The duo combined their talents with
Taupin writing song after song, and Elton
bring musical life to the results. Elton
released his first LP, Empty
Sky, in 1969. The
LP was received well by critics but had
little sales impact.

Elton signed with MCA Records.
For the LP release, Elton
John , the collaboration between
Elton and Taupin continued, and additional
work on the musical arrangements was focused
on for the material. The LP helped introduce
Elton to a wider audience with the Top 10
track, "Your Song," the track
"Border Song," and enthusiastic
responses to his concert appearances.

Elton released 11-17-70 - a live broadcast
recording from New York - also called 17-11-70
in the U.K. and the Friends
soundtrack.

The Friends soundtrack
was certified gold.

Elton released Madman
Across The Water which included the
hits "Levon" and "Tiny
Dancer" and was certified gold by the
end of the month.

Elton achieved star status when
he released Honky
Chateau and hit the radio with
"Honky Cat" and "Rocket
Man." The LP also introduced listeners
to Elton's touring band which included Dee
Murray on bass, Nigel Olsson on drums, and
Davey Johnstone on guitar. The LP hit #1 on
American charts and for the next 4 years,
Elton a string of Top 10 hits and seven #1,
platinum LPs.

Elton released hit Don't
Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player and Elton hit # 1 on
the pop charts for the first time in the U.S.
with "Crocodile Rock." The LP also
contained Elton's classic, "Daniel"
and sold over 3 million copies in the U.S.

Elton released Caribouwhich
contained the classics "The Bitch Is
Back" and "Don't Let The Sun Go
Down On Me."

The single "Don't Let The
Sun Go Down On Me" was certified gold.

Elton released his first hits
compilation - Greatest
Hits. Elton's first greatest hits
collection has since become his biggest
selling LP with over 15 million copies sold
in the U.S. The same year Elton signed a
multi-million dollar contract with MCA,
founded his own record label, Rocket Records,
and co-wrote a #1 song for John Lennon, "Whatever Gets
You Through The Night."Greatest
Hits was certified gold by the end
of the month.

After years of selling millions
of LPs worldwide and selling out concert
arenas, Elton's popularity slipped when he
revealed his bisexuality in a Rolling
Stone interview. The sexuality
admission was later said to be a compromise
revelation over his homosexuality. The release of Here
And There (a live recording of
performances at the Royal Festival Hall and
Madison Square Garden from '74) only achieved
Gold status in the U.S.

A second hits compilation, Greatest
Hits Vol. 2, was released and eventually
sold over 5 million copies in the U.S.

Greatest
Hits Vol. 2 was certified platinum. The heavy toll of live
performances and record making took its toll
on Elton's stamina, and he announced his
retirement from live performances (for 15
months).

The next LP, Victim
Of Loveproduced the Top 10
"Mama Can't Buy You Love" but both
LPs were commercially disappointing. But
Elton persevered and became the first Western
pop star to tour the Soviet Union.

Elton collaborated with Taupin
once again for 21
At 33 at hit the Top 40 with "Little
Jeannie."
Elton performed for free at New
York's Central Park to over 400,000 fans.He
also became the first Western artist to tour
Russia.

Elton released the live LP Elton
John Live In Australia - a concert
performance with the Melbourne Symphony
Orchestra in Australia recorded in 1986,
which gave Elton another Top 10 with the live
version of "Candle In The Wind."

Another greatest hits package, Greatest
Hits Vol. 3 was released. MTV gave Elton and Bernie Taupin
an award of Special Recognition at the MTV
Video Music Awards. Elton decided to abandon his
excessive and flamboyant stage style with an
auction of over 2000 items that brought in
$20 million. Elton would later admit that the
last 2 years of the 80s were the worst
periods in his life with mental and physical
deterioration.

Throughout the late 70s and 80s,
Elton had bouts with cocaine and alcohol
abuse and addiction. Elton's friendship with
Ryan White contributed to his change of
lifestyle. After Ryan had succumbed to
effects of AIDS, Elton was persuaded to
combat his drug abuse and bulimia.

Elton established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which would receive
all royalties from singles he released in the
future - 90% of its funds would be for direct
care and 10% would be directed at AIDS
prevention.

Elton's commercial and critical
success returned to a level not seen since
the 70s when he released The
One. The LP went Top 10 and double
platinum and contained the hits "The One" and "Simple Life" as well as
Elton's song about AIDS, "The Last Song."

Elton hit the Top 40 with "The One." Elton topped the Billboard Adult
Contemporary chart for 6 weeks with The One."

Elton had expected a year marked
with celebration over a new LP in the fall.
Instead, Elton lost 2 friends and achieved a
bitter sweet success of a best-selling
single. Elton's friend Gianni Versace was
murdered. Versace was had helped Elton update
his fashion image for the 90s and also
designed the LP cover for The
One.

Elton lost another friend,
Princess Diana. Elton performed a version of
"Candle In The Wind" (rewritten by
Taupin) at the memorial service for the
princess. The song was recorded hours after
the service and released worldwide within
weeks. "Candle In The Wind 1997" quickly became
the best-selling single of all-time all over
the world. The single was released as a
b-side to Elton's first single ("Something About The Way
You Look Tonight") from his new LP, The
Big Picture. All proceeds from the single
went to a charity foundation established in
memory of the princess. Elton's tribute to
Princess Diana, "Candle In The Wind 1997" has officially
been declared the biggest-selling single in
the world. Almost 32 million copies of the
single had been distributed around the world
as of October 21st. The previous best-selling
single was Bing Crosby's
"White Christmas" which sold over
30 million copies worldwide. John's single
has hit #1 all around the world.

Elton was honored for his AIDS
work by the CARE relief agency. Elton donated
10,000 outfits to be auctioned for charity in
November. John, describing himself as a
"shop-aholic" donated the items to
raise funds for his AIDS foundation, the Elton John Aids
Foundation. The event was held at his new
London shop, "Out Of The Closet"
where fans could pick up ties, suits, shirts,
and more for a fraction of what John had paid
for them. Over 4 million dollars worth of
clothing was donated, and John hopes to raise
a fraction of that cost for the charity. John
stated: "I just love buying clothes...
especially knowing that all my purchases will
ultimately be recycled to raise money for
charity." Elton hit the Top 10 with "Something About The Way
You Look Tonight." "Something About The Way
You Look Tonight" topped the Billboard
Adult Contemporary chart for 10 weeks.

John talked at a news conference
about moving on from a year filled with the
loss of friends and tributes. He said
"I've put that song ("Candle In The
Wind") to rest. I don't even think I'll
sing the Marilyn version of it for a long
time... I'm not going to go around the world
being a professional mourner... I don't want
to become the first spokesman for death. But
when they're friends of yours, you can't help
but do something." At the American Music
Awards, Elton took home the award for
Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist. Elton sang "Don't
Stop" on Legacy:
A Tribute To Rumours- a tribute LP
to Fleetwood
Mac.

Elton received another honor
February 9th at the 1998 Brit Awards when he
received the Freddie Mercury Award - a
special honor for his charitable work. The
ceremony took place at the White House while
Prime Minister Tony Blair was in the U.S. and
Blair said of John: "He is one of the
world's greatest living artists... He has
done an immense amount for charity, for
Britain, an immense amount for music." Elton won a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Candle In The Wind 1997." Bernie Taupin's lyrics for the
updated Elton John song "Candle In The Wind 1997" were auctioned
off for $442,500 in Beverly Hills. The money
will go toward a memorial fund set up in
Princess Diana's name. Elton was officially knighted by
Queen Elizabeth II in honor of his music and
humanitarian work. Elton said of the honor,
"...they don't come much bigger than
this. I am extremely proud... I love my
country and to be recognized in such a way...
I can't think of anything better."

It was announced that Elton has
become the #1 best-selling rock artist in the
U.S. (second only to Garth
Brooks overall). Elton has sold over
60.6 million units in the U.S. Madman
Across The Water was certified 2x
platinum.

Performance and Pollstar
named Elton as the highest grossing concert
tour in North America with over $46.2 million
in concert grosses. Love
Songs was certified 2x platinum.

Elton's next LP was a collection
of songs from Disney's stage musical Aida:
Elton
John & Tim Rice's Aidaand featured
the first single, "Written
In The Stars" with LeAnn
Rimes which hit the Top 40. Elton helped induct Dusty
Springfield into the Rock & Roll
Hall of Fame, stating: "I think she is
the greatest white singer that there ever has
been."

Elton was one of this year's
honorees at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance
Against Defamation (GLAAD) Awards. He
received the Vito Russo Award. Elton was also
honored by the New York Gay Media Group with
a special achievement award. Elton hit the Top 40 with "Someday
Out Of The Blue."

Elton won a Tony Award for Best
Original Score (with Tim Rice) for Aida. Elton made the news when he
denounced the leader of Scotland's Roman
Catholics: "Cardinal Winning and his
ignorance (regarding homosexuality) is
totally representative of why people are
turning away from the Church."

At the Grammy Awards, controversy erupted
for Elton when he agreed to sing with Eminem on his song
"Stan." The Gay and Lesbian
Alliance Against Defamation and the Vice
President's wife, Lynne Cheny, both spoke out
against Elton's apparent alliance with
someone they view as singing against
homosexuals. Elton did win a Grammy for Best
Musical Show Album (Aida).

Elton released Songs
From The West Coast. Elton said of the LP
that he's gone "back to basics" for
the music - "I can truthfully hold my
hand up and say this is the best thing I've
done in 25 years... and that feels
good." Elton hit the Top 40 with "I Want Love" - the video for
which stars actor Robert Downey, Jr. Elton topped the Billboard Top
Internet Albums chart for a week with Songs
From The West Coast. Elton performed at The
Concert For New York City benefit concert in New
York City (later released as an LP) with
proceeds going to 9/11 charities.

Elton struck a 3 year deal to
perform at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas when
steady headliner Celine
Dion is off. Elton is believed to be
receiving about $54 million for about 300
performances. Elton topped the UK singles
chart for a week with "Are You Ready For
Love."

Elton could be heard on the
soundtrack for Mona
Lisa Smile with "The Heart Of Every
Girl."

Elton topped the Billboard Hot
Dance Music Club Play chart for a week with
"Are You Ready For Love." Elton was nominated for a Golden
Globe Award for Original Song: "The
Heart Of Every Girl" from the film Mona
Lisa Smile.

On July 2nd, Elton performed in
London, England, as part of the worldwide Live
8 concerts. The mission of the
concerts was to raise awareness of the
on-going poverty in Africa and to pressure
the G8 leaders to take action by doubling
aid, canceling debt, and delivering trade
justice for Africa.

Elton hit the Billboard Hot
Country Songs chart with a duet with Catherine
Britt - "Where We Both Say
Goodbye."

Elton could be heard on B.B. King's LP 80 with the track
"Rock This House." Elton performed on ReAct
Now: Music & Relief - a benefit
program shown on music video channels to
raise money for those affected by Hurricane
Katrina. Elton could be heard on the
compilation LP So
Amazing... An All-Star Tribute To Luther
Vandross with "Anyone Who Had A
Heart."

The Captain And The KidReleased: September, 2006Billboard
peak:
# 18Rolling Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: A-Tracks: "Postcards
From Richard Nixon" - "Just
Like Noah's Ark" - "Would Have
You Any Other Way (NYC)" -
"Tinderbox" - "And The
House Fell Down" - "Blues Never
Fade Away" - "The Bridge"
- "I Must Have Lost It On The
Wind" - "Old '67" -
"The Captain And The Kid"

Note: Song title and
position links lead you to the song's Top
40 chart run (from the ARC Weekly Top
40)
and LP links take you to Amazon.com for that LP (often
including track listings and sound
samples).